.?.—
IT WAS a little past midnight. Like I
some great gray ghost against the
starlit dark, a huge transport was I
slowly plowing its way through the
deep black waters. It had passed Fire j
Island and was now passing Sandy
Hook and entering the lower bay. The
deck was crowded with soldiers, black
soldiers, who were coming home from
the blood drenched fields of Fiance.
From the moment that land had been
sighted far out in ocean, roar after
roar had risen from their dusky
throats, for they were glad to be com
ing home again. They had gone far
from their native strand to fight an
enemy who had threatened the world:
an enemy that would have destroyed
freedom and democracy and liberty.,
They had fought like brave men, and {
like brave men hundreds of them had j
remained in France to sleep the eter
nal sleep beneath her poppy strewn |
fields. Those who were coming back
had paid their debt to their country,
and as the great transport trembled j
into its final harbor, it was no won
der that they were glad.
All of a sudden they beheld the |
Statue of Liberty full against the sky,
and high above their heads blazed her
torch which was lightening the world.
Again a roar burst from their lips and
then stopped—suddenly. Why? No
one’ knew. Blankly for a moment they !
looked into each others’ faces and then
each saw an unmurmured question j
come into the eyes of everyone. Not
a word was said; not a sound was ut
tered. It seemed that for the moment
they remembered that they were black
soldiers and that they were black sol
diers explained everything. The si
lence was tense, so tense that one
voice suddenly’began singing "Home,
Sweet Home,” and at once a thousand
voices caught up the strain.
IK) WE NEED A
CHANGE IN TACTICS?
IN THE report of the annual meet
ing of the N. A. A. C. P., we read
that during the year the association
sent out 74 telegrams to governors
and Chambers of Commerce and re- ,
ceived only 21 replies. Couple this ,
fact with the coarse and vulgar re- ■
joinder of Governor Bilbo to a press
correspondent that he would, in ef
fect, tell the above mentioned associa- ;
tion “to go to hell,” it is probable
that the majority of the 53 who did
not reply, felt pretty much the same '
way and not a few of the 21 w'ho did
reply felt the same way also, only
they were polite enough not to be as I
brutally honest as Bilbo. Anyway,
the report tends to bring the question
to our minds, “Do we not need a
change of tactics?”
This constant agitation does not
seem to be accomplishing much to
ward the amelioration of the race’s
condition in America.
In his report to Congress, Secretary'
Wilson says: “Among the circum- i
stances disclosed by Dr. Dillard’s in
vestigation, was the fact that the ex
odus of Negro workers has been the !
largest where lynching and other I
forms of race friction had been great- !
est. Later reports from the field in- j
dicate that such evils are retarding |
the efforts of the department of la
bor to allay labor unrest.”
Does not this suggest that a more
effective way of attacking lynching
would be in encouraging emigration?
Aside from this, there should be
some new effort that will cause the
white man to stop and think so that
he will exert himself to put a stop to
these outrages which, as a matter of
fact, his better self deplores. Our
present methods of agitation are not
doing this, and until we do make him
think, we will accomplish little. Let
us search for new methods.
MAYBE SO
LAST week a well known local law'
yer received a letter from an Eng
lish Viscount relative to a book which
the lawyer recently published. The
latter is well known to several of The
Monitor staff and as one of them
passed his office he was called in and
showm the letter. The first few lines
of it ran as follow-s: “The white man’s
civilization is on its last legs and we
have got to try and save it, although
I don’t think there is much chance.
Europe is doomed, because the menace
of bolshevism is spreading too rapidly
for safety. I really believe that the
safest thing a white man can do is to
go to Africa, marry a native woman
and become as near an African as is
possible.”
Perhaps the Viscount has over
drawn conditions, yet on the other
hand, it is possible that he is in a
position to know- the existence of
many conditions of which we on this
side are ignorant. In building his civ
ilization the white man sowed the
wind and someday he will, according
to the inevitable laws of nature, reap
the whirlwind, but is that time yet?
Maybe the Viscount had indigestion
when he wrote that letter, or maybe
Lloyd-George is again framing up on
English nobility. At any rate, the Vis
count has given us something to think
about.
THE DUAL TASK OF THE
COLORED MINISTRY
OUR ministry' has a twofold task:
First, there is the insistence upon
righteousness; the building up of the
people spiritually; the fearless proc
lamation of “Thus saith the Lord.”
This is the primary duty before our
ministry, as before the ministry of
the dominant race. Insistence uporl
obedience to God’s commandments
which teach plainly man’s duty to
wards God and towards his neighbor
is an imperative charge laid upon ail
religious ministers and teachers. There
is need everywhere for fearless, but
loving and insistent and persistent
teaching of true religion which means
purity, chastity, honesty, truthfulness,
charity, kindness, brotherly love, tem
perance and sobriety. This then is
the first duty of our ministry. Iiut
since our ministers are in positions of
recognized leadership and the need
of our people along commercial, eco
nomic, business and industrial lines is
so great, they have laid upon them
the added duty of teaching the people
to improve their material condition by
saving their money, buying homes, en
gaging in business enterprises and
supporting business and professional
enterprises that our children may have
better advantages and that we may
make a place in the commercial and
industrial world.
This is the dual task laid upon the
Colored ministry. We wonder if they
recognize it and are rising to meet
the emergency.
N ATIONA L PROHI BIT ION
A SUFFICIENT number of states
-TV have ratified the prohibition
amendment to make it a national en
actment. The law becomes operative
within a few months. There can be
no doubt but that now prohibition may
be made to indeed prohibit. The elim
ination of much that was hypocritical
and farcial in state prohibition is now
possible. With an honest administra
tion and enforcement of the law the
liquor traffic with its attendant evils
will now be abolished.
THE MATTER OF THE
LIBERIAN LOAN
SEVERAL weeks ago The Monitor
published an Associated Press dis
patch to the effect that the Liberian
loan had been denied, because England
had notified our state department that
such a loan would be considered as an
unfriendly act and would establish a
sphere in influence in Africa for the
United States. The Monitor at once
addressed a letter to Mr. Emmett J.
Scott, relative to the matter, and the
answer to the same is published below.
It is apparent that Mr. Bass, the
Associated Press correspondent, had
some grounds for his statement that
Liberia had not yet been allowed her
loan. We are glad that the loan has
not been denied and we hope, with
Mr. Scott, that the $5,000,000 will soon
be placed at the disposal of the im
periled black republic and enable it
to get upon its feet:
War Department, Washington, Jan.
13, 1919.
Mr. George Wells Parker,
The Monitor,
1119 N. 21st St.,
Omaha, Neb.
Dear Sir:
I regret that your letter of
December 21 has remained unan
swered so long. I was in the
South during the Holidays with my
family. I returned to Washington for
a day or two and then went to Oyster
Bay for Col. Roosevelt’s funeral.
I have made inquiry at the State
Department regarding Mr. Bass’
statement that Liberia had been de
nied the loan, etc., etc.
This is not true; the loan has not
been denied, but has been established
as a credit for the Liberian Republic.
It so happens that the paities to the
loan of 1910 were Americans, French
and Germans. There is one or two
diplomatic snags which are to be sur
mounted before the present credit can
be effective. This is really all there
is to it. Personally, I have very great
hope that the $5,000,000 which is to
be placed at the disposal of the Liber
ian Republic will enable it to get on its
feet. Sincerely yours,
EMMETT J. SCOTT.
j Obvious Observations !
r HE gag put over the peace confer
ence is certainly going to put a
crimp in the Colored delegates who
were going to come back and tell us
folks all about it—for 60 cents per.
The calendar says it is January, but
confidently we think it is April.
It is becoming more evident every
day that a German is about as trust
worthy as a rattlesnake.
Looks sort of like President Wil
son’s cabinet is trying to duck the
republican congress by getting loose,
doesn’t it?
Soldiers are yelling because women
won’t let go of their jobs. Well, one
can't blame women for holding on. H.
C. L. would make a guy hold onto a
hot poker these days.
If you think there aren’t any bol
sheviki in the U. S. A., just listen and
read the papers about Chicago’s labor
convention.
Unk Sani is going to keep an army
of 600,000 men. Thought there was
going to be world peace?
Europe’s quietude reminds us of a
cat fight on the back fence some
where near midnight.
Better pay up that subscription!
The cutter is going over the mail list
and he ain’t sparin’ nobody no time
no how.
The war ended so quickly that Unk
Sam is having a-of a time putting
on reverse.
Thanking you kindly for your wrapt
attention, we will now go in and get
acquainted with friend bath tub.
SKITS OF SOLOMON
The Gag
r I iHE peace conference being held at
I Vursoy, France, has been gagged.
In other words, a Maxim silencer has
been placed over the vocal cannon of
the members. Naturally, the world is
hot under the collar and wants to
know the whyfor of the whereas, hut
after all it may he better. The
chances are a silencer will be needed,
because there are going to ire daily
explosions great enough to rock the
government siesmograpb. The chances
are that there will also be some rough
and ready matches with free for all
rules governing the scrap. The peace
conference sure would make good
reading and have Nick Garter’s leg
ends beaten seven ways from Sunday,
hut the gentlemen of said conference
had decided to spare friend public
from any rising in temperature. The
gag rule will go sort of hard with
the self-appointed cullud delegates
who expected to gather in mouthful
of chatter to bring back homewards
and deliver at so much per. It will
also be tough on the newspaper boys
who expected to keep typewriters full
of rheumatism from overwork. Pres
ident Woody wants them wide open,
hut maybe after he gets in a session
or two, he will thank goodness that the
halter was slipped over the publicity
end of the conference. It is dimes to
doughnut holes that they won’t spare
Woody or anybody else when they get
down to hair-pulling and fist-jabbing.
The peace conference will be every
thing else but a peaceful gathering,
and it might need a few six shooters
and rapid fire guns before it over.
As Caesar said the night before Brute
handed him the Ides of March, “You
never can tell.”
SOUND THE WARNING NOTE
BLACK BOLSHEVIK!
IN THE MAKING
The menace to the peace of the
world now is not international but
intra-national. The forces of unrest
and of anarchy which have ravaged
Russia, that are seizing Central Eu
rope and are now menacing France
and England, are seeking a foothold
upon these shores. Ex-President Taft
has recently declared that the only
way for America to deal with them is
to shoot them. So far as twelve mil
lion of the most loyal citizens in this
country are concerned, we wish to is
sue a warning to all the white patriots
of America. Socialism and Bolshe
vism will some day get a hold upon
tens of thousands of black people in
America unless the forces of race des
potism and oppression now driving
them into those camps are stopped,
and at once. There is a widespread
and growing feeling among Colored
citizens that the wave of barbarous
mob law which recently lynched two
black sisters and two brothers defend
ing the girls’ honor, and the week be
fore strung up in cold blood a Black
soldier in uniform—can only and must
be eventually stopped by violence. The \
maddening injustice which the Civil
Service heads in Washington have |
used, even during the war, to deny j
competent Colored girls employment,
has caused many of the best Colored ;
families to grow sick at heart and
desperate. Discrimination in all walks
life against Colored people is run
ning amuck since the armistice was
signed, carrying bitterness and re
venge into the very souls of Black
men and women. The number of them
is growing who believe that neither
the next Republican Congress nor any
other force within or without the Gov- |
eminent is going to rise up to stop j
the wholesale inhuman crimes against
Colored eitizerts. We submit that
these are Black Bolsheviki in the mak
ing. 'Die conservative Colored citi
zens of America call upon America
again rnd again to give their people
their inalienable rights.—New York
News.
SOME OF OUR HEROES
WHO HAVE THE
CROIX DE GUERRE
New York City.—George C. Lacy, j
formerly of the Fifteenth New York !
Regiment, but now of the old Eighth j
Illinois, was decorated by General 1
Yineendon of the Fifty-ninth French'
army, with the Croix de Guerre on De
cember 6, 1918.
Shelbvville, Ind.—Corporal Albert
Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. William
Taylor, of this city, has been decor- ‘
ated with the French Croix de Guerre
for bravery in action.
Princeton, Ind.—Second Lieutenant
Aaron R. Fisher, 386th Infantry, cited
for bravery by the War Department,
is the son of Benjamin Fisher of
Lyles, four miles west of Princeton.
He has lmen a member of the regular
army six years. His citation reads as
follows: “For extraordinary heroism
in action near Lesscux, France, Sep
tember 3, 1918.
The citation under which Corporal
Isaac Valley, Girard, Kas., received
his D. S. C., stated that “a hand gren
ade was dropped among a group of
soldiers in a trench, and when he
might have saved himself by flight,
he attempted to cover it with his foot
and thereby protect his comrades. In
the performance of this brave act be
was severely wounded.” Corporal Val
ley served three years in the Philip
pines.
Hampton, Va.—One of our heroes
recently awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross is Thomas Henry Davis,
368th Infantry, a former Hampton In
stitute student. The citation for he
roism follows: “For extraordinary he
roism in action at Ilinarville, Septem
ber 5, 1918.”
SUCH SENTIMENT MUST DIE
We are determined to know nothing
down here but the Damnigger and
Him Terrified.—Daily State Journal,
Raleigh, N. C.
While this may represent the sen
timent of the Daily State Journal, we .
believe that such sentiment as this |
must and will speedily die, even in
North Carolina.
NEGRO TOYMAKER DISCOVERED
I)es Moines, la., Jan. 22.—-America
isn't going to miss German made toys
at all. Before the war the quaint
wooden toys which hore the imposing
stamp, ‘‘Made in Germany,” were con
sidered just a little better than any
other.
In the war America found herself
in more ways than one.
At Fort Des Moines an Alabama
Negro soldier is daily turning out
just as attractive wooden toys as Ger
many ever thought of making. Cun
ning little animals, birds mounted
with the laughing heads of Colored
Dinahs and Topsys—all these arc be
ing evolved under the nimble fingers
of men who used to laugh and sing
in the cotton fields and didn’t even
know the meaning of the words
“boche” or "kultur” several years ago.
An effort is being made to have
the toys put on the market.
Dr. Earnest E. Graves |
DENTISTRY
242JNorth 10th Street
Telephone L52li.l LINCOLN, NEB
Modern Furnished Rooms
811 W. 14th Street
CENTER CAFE
Phone Red 1457
922 Center Street
Mrs. Louise Cooper, Prop.
Des Moines, Iowa
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